Ken Morrow is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was born on October 17, 1956, in Flint, Michigan, and grew up playing hockey in the Detroit area.
Morrow played college hockey at Bowling Green State University, where he was a standout defenseman. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round of the 1976 NHL Entry Draft, but he continued to play college hockey for two more seasons before turning pro.
Morrow joined the Islanders in the 1980-81 season, which was the beginning of a dynasty for the team. He was a key member of the Islanders' defense corps, which also included Hall of Famers Denis Potvin and Butch Goring. Morrow was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots, and he was a key penalty killer for the Islanders.
Morrow played a crucial role in the Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983. He scored the game-winning goal in the decisive Game 5 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the first player in NHL history to win an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup in the same year (Morrow had won a gold medal with the US Olympic hockey team earlier that year).
Morrow continued to play for the Islanders until 1989, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played one season for the Penguins before retiring from the NHL.
After retiring from playing, Morrow became a scout for the Islanders and later served as the team's director of pro scouting. He also worked as an assistant coach for the US Olympic hockey team in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.
Morrow's hockey career was marked by his success as a member of the Islanders' dynasty in the early 1980s. He was a reliable defenseman who played a key role in the team's championship runs, and he will always be remembered for his game-winning goal in the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals.
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